A while back I asked everyone about better drilling skills as I could drill with a cordless and get super long springy swarf but would inevitably chip the edges when breaking through the other side. I got heaps of great advice and corrected that problem on the drill press with stronger clamps and faster feed and also with a cordless using a smaller pilot drill and a hardwood backer.

Here is something I just worked out and feel a bit silly as it should have been obvious. I have gone through many cordless drills over the years. Well taken care of and top of the line kit but I ware them out. I have never found a use for the adjustable clutch on them as I always found them too weak in their maximum setting or inconsistent when driving screws. I learnt to get a better finish with trigger control.

I was drilling 13mm holes in a piece of railroad track. I could not get it into the drill press so I grabbed the cordless with a hardwood backer... I just sharpened the bit and it was cutting like butter but it grabbed just as it was about to finish breaking through the other side and luckily I let the trigger go in time.... However, I this is the only time in years I have found a use for the clutch. Just set it to hardest setting, drill to get nice swarf and the clutch kicks in just at the right time and protects the cutting corners of the twist drill. Flip it over and clean up the hole with a counter sink as it should self centre back in the hole.

Now, I'm sure many of you guys knew this as let's face it....it's pretty obvious. I can't believe it has taken me this long to figure this one out. I don't think I will go back to my old cordless method as it is still 'hit and miss' that you are not going to chip the drill you just bought or sharpened.